Radio Netherlands reporters detail Sri Lanka harassment

Two journalists for Radio Netherlands Worldwide have gone
public with their story of Sri Lankan government harassment, which ultimately
drove them out of the country last week. The episode had been reported on a
few Tamil websites, but I had been unable to confirm the story independently.

Now, you can
get the story from the two radio reporters themselves. Even though they're
back home, Radio Netherlands is identifying them only as Olivia and Philip to
protect their identities for future assignments. The web page also has an audio
interview with the two reporters.

The government is in denial mode these days after Britain's Channel
4 aired a documentary on widespread brutality at the end of the war with
Tamil secessionists, and a U.N. investigation
found evidence of war crimes by both sides. Visa procedures have tightened up
significantly as the government hunkers down, fending off international
criticism.

Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk.